A forest fire that entered human settlements destroyed 23 houses and five sheds in ward 1 of Phedap Rural Municipality-1 of Tehrathum district on Sunday.

The forest fire, which began at around 1 pm, entered the human settlements, reducing houses in five villages of ward 1 of Phedap Rural Municipality to ashes.

Man Bahadur Shrestha, the chair of ward 1, said that even though in some places the fire has been controlled, it is still spreading to more villages, adding they are facing challenges in controlling the fire due to the sparse settlement surrounded by forest.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Chapagain said a police team has reached the area to contain the fire and is collaborating with locals to tame the inferno.

Chapagain said dense forests and the scarcity of water were hampering efforts to contain the fire.

Police said fire engines were unable to reach the incident sites and the forest due to narrow roads.

Incidents of fire have been reported across the country with the onset of the dry season. Earlier on Saturday, three children were killed in a fire in Bhojpur.

“The details of the damage caused by the fire will be clear once the fire is brought under control,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Chapagain.

Experts caution that the likelihood of forest fires is expected to rise this year due to the extended drought period and the buildup of biomass in the wilderness, which serves as abundant fuel. Of particular concern is the absence of younger individuals in rural areas, leaving the elderly and children at a heightened risk of injury and fatalities resulting from forest fires.